7.1.6—Energy is transferred by a progressive wave
- Syllabus
- 9702–2028–2029
- Objective
- 7.1.6
- Level
- AS
A progressive wave transfers energy through a medium as the disturbance travels
A progressive wave carries energy from a source to new positions while the medium’s particles oscillate about equilibrium.
Track both the propagation direction and particle motion. Energy transfer does not require the material to move with the wave overall.
A ripple travels across water and can move a floating cork up and down while delivering energy to the edge.
A travelling wave is not a single object moving through the medium; phase and energy move through repeated oscillations.
ConceptA-Level CAIE Physics AS